Why Continuous Learning Is Crucial To Your Business

Change is the only constant in business today. There are numerous innovations and technological developments that should be implemented to help your business grow and innovate.

Organizations also grow through learning experiences and events. Continuous learning can be applied to organizations, teams and individuals. It is a process that will help you achieve your goal and objectives.

Undertaking continuous learning will entail changes. One can’t learn and remain the same individual, team or organization. There will be a constant evolution of how one thinks and acts, brought about by new knowledge, skills and understanding.

I know that already. This is one of the worst phrases that anyone can say. This can destroy any possibilities of continuous learning. There will definitely be no growth if there is no learning.

3 Levels of Continuous Learning

1. Individual Level

Continuous learning at an individual level will entail perception and behavioral change as you hone and develop your own skills, knowledge and thinking. These include knowing how to handle new situations and expanding your skill and know-how in a certain area.

Time and effort are required at this level, along with the decision to learn. One can’t be forced to learn something he doesn’t like – he will definitely fail. Understanding the value of learning is the only thing needed to make a person want to learn.

Learning at this level can be done through coaching, mentoring, training, workshops, actual application, and seminars. Taking up a new course is also a great way to learn (And would greatly benefit both yourself and the organization, for example, completing an occupational health and safety course, like the NEBOSH and IOSH online courses).

2. Team Level

Continuous learning at team levels is a collective individual learning. When a team member shares new information and knowledge, team learning takes place. Moreover, this involves a series of learning processes that will boost team performance:

Experimentation

Reflections

Feedback

Q & A sessions

Group discussions.

New knowledge can come in the form of an idea, concept or tool while new skills can mean new practices.

Today, teams have become a crucial element due to their ability to perform services and create products, make decisions, and find great solutions to problems. Thus, continuous learning is important in teams that want to succeed in their designated objective.

Your team must acquire a new skill and knowledge so you can perform your specific functions. Continuous learning should never be neglected. This way, your team won’t have a hard time achieving your company’s goals.

3. Organizational Level

Organizational continuous learning entails a change of procedures and policies, as well as interaction patterns, new innovations and systems, and new culture. Embed new knowledge and skill acquisitions within the structures of your organization to achieve your overall goals.

Most changes are felt more in teams and individuals because they comprise an organization.

Continuous learning at an organizational level is gained through feedback from customers, clients, and your employees. Consider getting ideas and comments from groups of people so you’ll know if your company needs developments or changes to grow and move forward.

Here are different types of continuous learning that happen at this level:

Generative Learning

Generative learning will entail intentionally adding new knowledge, skill and information to make changes in the organization. Teams and individuals must collaborate to understand the current issues of your company. From there, you must come up with solutions to address such issues.

Single-Loop Learning

Single-loop learning refers to an adaptive learning wherein adjustments must be done within your organization whenever necessary. It can be in the form of identifying loopholes in structures, procedures and policies.

Double-Loop Learning

Aside from detecting and correcting the errors and loopholes, double-loop learning also determines why it happened. And this leads to changes in structures, policies and procedures.

In today’s rapidly changing workplace, it is crucial that your skills and knowledge are kept fresh and current. Your organization will have a competitive advantage when your employees and teams are aware of significant insights and apply these to work ethics.

AUTHOR BIO

Dave Newgass is the owner and Managing Director of Wise Global Training Ltd. Born and raised in a small California coastal fishing town but now living in the United Kingdom, Dave’s goal is to ensure that clients are not only happy with the IOSH and NEBOSH online courses they purchase from Wise Global Training Ltd., but are also happy with the total experience as a whole.